DEAD is what Angela Maher is -- struck down in her prime by accused drunken driver
Gloria Schulze.
GONE is what Gloria Schulze is-- allowed to escape by a judicial system that might as well have booked her flight.

In mid-October, she spoke with Douglas Bartosh, Scottsdale's executive assistant chief of police. She was assured that the Scottsdale police were looking for Schulze. Scottsdale police spokesman Brian Freeman will only say that his department is still actively working the case.

Maher met with Governor J. Fife Symington III, who referred her complaint to the state Department of Public Safety. But DPS, she says, refused to get involved because Scottsdale police already were investigating.

She also met with Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose staff admitted to her that it didn't begin actively working the Schulze file until October 30, the day Maher asked to meet with Arpaio. Sheriff's investigators did come up with some interesting facts: Maher says she was told that, in the two weeks before she disappeared, Schulze maxed out her credit cards and sold two automobiles.

Finally, after a year of repeated requests, Maher met with County Attorney Rick Romley on November 20. Mike Curran, who was also at the meeting, says Romley seemed more concerned that Arpaio's office had disclosed data about Schulze's credit history than about Schulze's whereabouts. But Romley did promise to get the FBI involved.

The FBI finally issued a federal warrant for Schulze on December 1.
"After they were pushed, they finally responded, but it was only after being prodded, and I think it was out of a sense of embarrassment," Maynard says.

That embarrassment is not strong enough to convince the County Attorney's Office to try Schulze in absentia. Rand says that's not an option, and he wouldn't say why.

Meanwhile, Rose Marie Maher has done some detective work of her own, and learned that Schulze's parents sold the Scottsdale house for $115,000 cash. The sale was final October 19.

She says, "You think I'm going to let her walk the face of the Earth after I buried my daughter?"

Christmas 1995 was peaceful. Donald Maher Jr. figures that's the best he can hope for. "It's just not the same when half of your family's gone," he says.

Donald, 27, looks a lot like his sister, whose photograph is displayed prominently throughout the Mahers' home. He still speaks of his sister in the present tense, relishing any opportunity to talk about Angela--even if it's about her faults.

She's lazy. Strong-headed. She procrastinates.
"She can be temperamental. She's definitely got her own opinions, and she's not afraid to express those opinions."

That's actually one of her biggest assets, but it can get out of hand. "You ask her a question and she'll tell you the truth. You ask her how the outfit looks, and she'll say, 'Take it off, girl!'"

Donald is a quiet guy, and he always marveled at the way his gregarious sister could walk into a roomful of strangers and instantly be at ease.

"I'm sure you know people like that," he says. "You meet them and you just like them. You don't know why. You just like them. You like to talk to them."

Donald isn't shy about his view of the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Earlier this month, he wrote to Mitch Rand, "Given your handling of this case, it does not appear that you or your office can or will vigorously prosecute Gloria Schulze for killing my 21year old sister Angela Marie. The vary [sic] events we warned you about and that you assured us would not happen did take place. You can play all the games you want but my mother and I will not go away.